The document summarizes key elements that were researched and incorporated into the opening of the student's horror film "Pieces". These include: 1) Using typical horror film settings like isolated homes to unsettle viewers. 2) Including recognizable props like knives that are associated with the slasher horror genre. 3) Drawing inspiration from other acclaimed horror films like Scream through similarities in title design, stalker/killer costume, and suspenseful scenes.

1. In what ways does my film
opening use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?

2. Exploring Conventions Of
Horror Films.
I researched a lot of horror film openings and took note of the different
elements that make up the opening. I explored mise en scene, camera
movement, editing, sound, narrative ideas, themes and title ideas.
Some features of a horror film include-
Antagonist(s) which could be supernatural beings or psychopathic humans
(traditionally male) who inflict harm and violence upon others.
Victims are usually teenagers or parents with young children.
Also scenes that unsettle the audience are used through the use of mise en
scene, props, editing and actions.
This presentation shows where me and my partner got our ideas from to
make our opening for ‘Pieces’ by using traditional and modern concepts.

3. Pieces
Setting Scary Movie
Typical settings in a horror
are places which feel
isolated or abandoned. Dark
places such as forests and
old buildings are popular
settings for horror.
In our film we decided to
use a home environment for
our setting because you are
suppose to feel safe at home
but horror films challenge
the safety of the characters
inside the house.
Many films such as Insidious,
The Orphanage, Halloween,
Scream and Scary Movie use
a home setting.

4. Props
Certain props are associated with
different types of horror films. For
example, a slasher horror would
involve victims being killed by a
knife or another sharp object.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Other, not so obvious props can
also be used to represent or
foreshadow a future movement.
For example, in the film V for
Vendetta, many of the props such
as books and swords are placed in a
way that show the shape of a V,
V For Vendetta
which relates to the whole films.
In our film, we used a knife to
traditionally represent a horror.
We also used a tomato to
foreshadow blood and potential
cutting of flesh.
Pieces

5. Characters/Costume
Final Destination Final Destination
3: 4th death. 1&2: Died at end of
In our opening we don’t know much about
2nd.
our characters because it isn’t too important
to know who they are in the first two
minutes. But from the costumes we can have
a guess who could be the first victim.
Traditionally blonde females, who are seen
as having a lack of common sense, would get
killed first but some horror films (such as
final destination) change it so the blonde
character either dies last or survives.
Pieces

6. Similarities With Scream
This is the title for Pieces. It is
similar to that of Scream
because of the red writing on
the black background.
The shot of my character on the phone is so similar
Most horror films use red
writing because it can to the character is Scream. The difference is that
foreshadow danger and blood. the character is Scream is seen as vulnerable.
Our film is easy to compare to Scream
because a lot of the concepts are
similar. We wanted a stalker figure to
be suspicious by looking in on the
female character in the kitchen – just
like in Scream. But we also decided to
make our film to have a lot of
Both ‘villains’ are wearing black and have a hood and suspense like in Alfred Hitchcock’s
mask. The difference is the mask in Scream is more Psycho. So with a mixture of ideas
distinguishable. In many horror films, the antagonist based on other horror films, we were
wears a mask for the obvious reason – to cover up their
able to create a typical horror film
identity. This allows the audience to keep making guesses
of who the baddie is. opening.